THE VET SECTOR THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FROM COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
ISSUE 7 OCT 2018
COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
Our intention as always is to provide you with the most up-to-date information and updates regarding the VET sector, the largest education sector of Australia. In this edition, we have continued with the article; Different phases of assessment and learner validation processes. This is a 4 part article that will continue in the next 2 editions. We have also included information related to assessment issues that RTOs may experience, monthly news and updates and information about NCVER’s VET Knowledge Bank - a key source of reference information about Australia’s VET system. As always, we welcome your feedback. Write to us at info@caqa.com.au or call 1800 266 160.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
DIFFERENT PHASES OF ASSESSMENT AND LEARNER VALIDATION PROCESSES (PART 2) This is Part 2 of the article, where we are discussing the different phases of the validation
processes an RTO should be following to ensure you meet regulatory requirements and industry expectations. In the previous article, we discussed the following regarding the validation of assessment resources: Explanation of assessment validation Typical benchmarks used during the validation processes Stages of validation (before, during and after the assessment judgements) In this month’s article, we will explore the regulatory requirements around assessment validation. Regulatory requirements for conducting validation According to the Standards of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, you are required to implement a quality review process (Clauses 1.8, 1.9, 1.10 and 1.11). Clause 1.8a requires that the RTO’s assessment systems comply with the assessment requirements of the relevant training packages or VET accredited courses. Clause 1.8b requires RTOs to ensure that the evidence gathered is valid (one of the Rules of Evidence) and that assessment processes and outcomes are valid (one of the Principles of Assessment). These requirements must be met and demonstrated in all assessment policies, procedures, materials and tools of the RTO. Clause 1.8 primarily relates to the development (or purchase) of the RTO’s assessment resources.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
DIFFERENT PHASES OF ASSESSMENT AND LEARNER VALIDATION PROCESSES (PART 2) Putting in place quality assurance measures can benefit your business by:'
Ensuring you identify potential compliance issues and resolve them quickly Reducing your risk of missing any compliance obligations Improving how your RTO is run and giving your employees more certainty over how to do their job Reducing your risk if your RTO is subject to any legal issues or claims Increasing the efficiency of your RTO because you will be spending less time working out how to do things or fixing mistakes. Quality assurance is part of running a well-managed registered training organisation. Do I need to do both compliance and quality assurance? Compliance is not something you can choose to do; it’s legally required by bodies like ASIC. While quality assurance is not demanded by law, it is good business practice to put programs in place to help you meet your compliance obligations and run your business. Sometimes, Industry stakeholders may even ask your RTO to have quality assurance programs in place. Assessment validation has been strengthened in the Standards for RTOs and the requirement is to: Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for ongoing systematic validation of assessment that includes all training products on the RTO’s scope of delivery (Clause 1.9) Validate the assessment practices and judgements for each training product at least once every five years with at least 50% of products to be validated within the first three years of each five-year cycle (Clause 1.10) Ensure that validation is conducted by one or more suitably qualified persons, who are not directly involved in the delivery and/or assessment of the training product being validated. (Clause 1.11). These clauses relate primarily to the actual delivery and outcomes of the RTO’s assessment systems, including the performance of the RTO’s assessors.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
DIFFERENT PHASES OF ASSESSMENT AND LEARNER VALIDATION PROCESSES (PART 2) Assessment system
Documents required for conducting an effective validation session, in the RTO’s assessment system, includes but is not limited to: Validation related documents: Validation plan Validation schedule Validation record or validation form Validation register Validation report form Continuous improvement form Continuous improvement register Pre-assessment validation documents Assessment resources: Unit assessment pack/student pack Trainer assessment pack/assessor pack Mapping document Assessment evidence according to a sample size Other documents: Training and assessment strategy Feedback forms Unit of competency Companion volume/implementation guide AQF framework ACSF framework
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
DIFFERENT PHASES OF ASSESSMENT AND LEARNER VALIDATION PROCESSES (PART 2) You will be required to evaluate if the assessment resources meet:
Training package requirements (application, elements and performance criteria, foundation skills, performance evidence, knowledge evidence, assessment conditions) Principles of assessment; fairness, flexibility, validity and reliability Rules of evidence; valid, sufficient, authentic and current The appropriate level of difficulties (AQF Level) Provide sufficient and clear instructions Record any appropriate adjustments Who conducts validation? Validation is a collaborative process. The team must hold collectively: Vocational competencies and current industry skills relevant to the assessment being validated Current knowledge and skills in vocational teaching and learning The TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (or its successor) or the TAESS00001 Assessor Skills Set (or its successor). Validators can be employees of your RTO, or you can seek external validators. The trainer and assessor who delivered/assessed the training product being validated: Can participate in the validation process as part of a team Cannot conduct the validation on his/her own Cannot determine the validation outcome for any assessment judgements they made Cannot be the lead validator in the assessment team. It is important to keep the records of all validation activities and validators as auditors might ask for it during audit activities and for managing continuous improvement processes at an RTO. How is validation different from moderation? Moderation is a quality control process aimed at bringing assessment judgements into alignment. Moderation is generally conducted before the finalisation of student results as it ensures the same decisions are applied to all assessment results within the same unit of competency. The requirement in the Standards to undertake validation of assessment judgements does not affect your RTO’s ability to undertake moderation activities, or any other process aimed at increasing the quality of assessment. (ASQA, 2018) (To be continued in the next newsletter) The VET Sector I CAQA Publications
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
STRUGGLING WITH VALIDATION?? DOWNLOAD OUR FREE TEMPLATE HERE!
INSERT YOUR CONTACT DETAILS HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR FREE VALIDATION FORM PROBLEMS WITH VALIDATION? CALL US ON 1800 266 160. MENTION THIS FORM AND WE WILL GIVE YOU A $50 DISCOUNT ON OUR VALIDATION SERVICE (NORMAL PRICE $660).
https://mailchi.mp/caqa/caqa-free-validation-form
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
LEARN FROM THE INDUSTRY LEADERS
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
ASSESSMENT ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR RTO AUDIT (PART 2) This is Part 2 continuing from the previous newsletter.
As discussed in Part 1 of this article, there are a number of assessment-related issues that may affect your audit outcome. You should ensure your assessment resources, therefore, meet the following criteria: The context and conditions of assessment. For example, an assessment tool could be developed to cater for a particular language, literacy and numeracy requirements, the learner’s workplace experience or other learner needs that require reasonable adjustment. The context of the assessment may also take into account assessments already completed, and the competencies demonstrated in these assessments. By looking at the context, you can consider the conditions under which evidence for assessment must be gathered. All activities are conducted adequately using the required: equipment or material requirements contingencies specifications physical conditions relationships with team members and supervisors relationships with clients/customers timeframes for completion.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
ASSESSMENT ISSUES THAT MAY IMPACT YOUR RTO AUDIT (PART 2) Assessment methods or tasks are suitable to the
requirements of the units of competency and students are assessed on the tasks and activities according to the requirements of the training package. The language used is simple English The evidence required to make a decision of competency is clearly outlined The types of activities and tasks student need to perform are clearly outlined The level of performance required for each assessment activity is clearly outlined Adequate exposure to workplace conditions, including appropriate simulated environments Sufficient knowledge-based assessment tasks and activities such as written questions and case studies etc. Sufficient practical based assessment tasks and activities such as projects, role plays, workplace tasks and observations etc. Assessment resources are error-free and free from any grammar, copyright or plagiarism issues It is a wise decision to get your training and assessment strategies and resources validated by independent industry experts to get honest feedback and an unbiased opinion.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
GETTING TO KNOW THE VET VET information at your fingertips NCVER’s VET Knowledge Bank is a key source of reference information about Australia’s VET system. Did you know the VET sector is the largest education sector in Australia? Like most countries, Australia’s VET system is complex and ever-changing. Getting to know VET aims to explain the system via a chart of the key components, including: Training products Industry’s role Provider peak bodies VET delivered to secondary students VET regulators The VET Knowledge Bank is an evolving resource. Follow @VOCEDplus to find out when new content is added.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
ASQA Welcomes Convictions for Dishonest Training Providers The national VET regulator has welcomed the conviction of four people who falsified documents. For more Information, visit here. Updates to the BSB Training Package Updates to the BSB Training Package were released last week and Release 3.0 is now published on the national register of VET, training.gov.au (TGA). A number of units of competency have been updated to align with industry skill needs and/or standards, six qualifications have had updates to core units and two new units have been introduced: BSBWRK311 Develop self-awareness BSBWRK412 Contribute to personal development For more information about the updates and to understand which changes may impact your RTO, please refer to the TGA website.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
THE VET NEWS Industry update: AISC endorses training package reviews The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) has announced the approval of Industry Skills Forecasts and Proposed Schedules of Work, including Cases for Change, that have been submitted by PwC’s Skills for Australia. For more information, please refer to this link. Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer, ACPET The Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) Board has appointed Troy Williams as its new Chief Executive Officer. For more Information, please visit: this link.
DISCLAIMER The information in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only, it is generalist in its approach. The information presented in this newsletter is not legal advice or a legal opinion, and it is not intended to be tailored to the specific circumstances of any particular case and should not be relied upon as such. Persons should seek professional legal advice before acting upon any of the information in this newsletter.
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COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE (CAQA)
THE VET SECTOR
OUR COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICES Our reputation has been built on delivering quality
VET and Higher Education consultancy services at affordable prices with exceptional service. We have clients Australia wide and a talented, experienced team of in-house compliance consultants with over 90 years of combined experience. We will work with you to create a customised solution that works for your RTO training and education business. We pride ourselves on delivering quality VET services in an efficient and affordable manner. Our services include consultation in several areas: RTO & CRICOS Higher Education Validation of assessment and learner resources Development of assessment and learner resources ISO 9001 E-Learning ELICOS Audit and Compliance Business Analysis Delegation RTO’s VET Student Loan Risk Management For more Information, please visit www.CAQA.com.au/servicesWe offer help and support to all RTO’s and Higher Education Providers (HEP). Our services can assist in registering and establishing a reputable RTO/HEP, maintaining compliance with AQTF or NVR, internal auditing or even assistance managing RTO/HEP administration. Please go to our website (www.careercalling.com.au) for more information and feel free to call (1800-266-160)or email (info@careercalling.com.au) us if you think we can help you!
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Compliance and Quality Assurance (CAQA) Resources has developed the most up-to-date assessment and learner resources for the following courses: ELICOS General English – Level 1 General English – Level 2 General English – Level 3
English for Academic Purpose Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Accounting FNS30317 Certificate III in Accounts Administration FNS40217 Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping FNS50217 Diploma of Accounting FNS60217 Advanced Diploma of Accounting
Information Technology ICT50115 Diploma of Information Technology ICT40115 Certificate IV in Information Technology ICT60115 Advanced Diploma of Information Technology
ECEC CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Building and Construction CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50308 Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) Community Services CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support
Painting and Decorating CPC30611 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating Hospitality Management SIT50416 Diploma of Hospitality Management SIT30816 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery SIT40516 Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery For more information, please visit www.caqaresources.com.au